Adjustable pole support system

ABSTRACT

A system of shelves, cabinets, lighting fixtures and other accessories is adjustably horizontally supported on vertical poles removably located between the floor and ceiling of a dwelling or other structure without structural damage thereto. The poles are designed for easy vertical alignment, provide numerous locations for article support mounting pins and may be easily decorated with caps which conceal mounting pin apertures from view. The wide variety of articles supportable by the pole system are prevented from relative rotational movement with respect to the poles by coaction between article supports and channels formed in the poles.

United States Patent 1191 Nash 5] Aug. 13, 1974 ADJUSTABLE POLE SUPPORTSYSTEM FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [76] Inventor: Gerald Nash, 809Georgina 1,210,529 2/1966 Germany 21 W76 Santa Monica, Calif. 90402 [22]Filed: Aug. 9, 1972 Primary Examiner-Ramon S. Britts [21] pp No 279,179Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Amster & Rothstein [52] US. Cl 211/86, 211/176,248/243 [57] F 51 1111.01. A47f 5/10 A System Of Shelves, Cabmets,llghtmg fixtures and 53 Fi f Search u 21 17 0 7 0 other accessories isadjustably horizontally supported 10 10; 24 243 2 22 on vertical polesremovably located between the floor and ceiling of a dwelling or otherstructure without 5 References Cited structural damage thereto. Thepoles are designed for UNITED STATES PATENTS easy vertical alignment,provide numerous locations for article support mounting pins and may beeasily decorated with caps which conceal mounting pin aper- 2'68l7866/1954 552;: 248/243 tures from view. The wide variety of articlessupportzz744j795 5/1956, "i' X able by the pole system are preventedfrom relat1ve 2,940,718 6/1960 Beal 211/86 x mammal movement Wlthrespect to the POles by 2,99s,107 8/1961 Zimmerla 248/243 x actionbetween article pp and channels formed 3,000,604 9/1961 Schulze-Robbecke248/243 X in the poles.

G1bbons 211/176 X 14 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures Duboff 2l l/86 XPATENIEuwc 1 3l974 SHEET 1 BF 3 Hes FIG. 3.

PAIENIEU we 1 31924 SHEET 3 [IF 3 ADJUSTABLE POLE SUPPORT SYSTEM Thepresent invention relates generally to adjustable, supported furnitureassemblies, and in particular to a pole supported furniture system inwhich furniture and accessories are removably mounted on vertical polesin a stable, horizontal arrangement.

The desire for variation in furniture arrangement, changing needs withregard to type and style of fumiture and the need for semi-permanentlocation of changeable furniture units without attendant structuraldamage of leased premises has resulted in the popularity of adjustablepole-supported furniture systems. In addition to residentialrequirements, various commercial establishments require flexible storageand display facilities to cope with changing needs and the desire forpresentation of attractive and decorative displays.

In typical examples of pole-supported furniture assemblies on themarket, article support means are attached to poles by complicated andexpensive mechanical contrivances in order to ensure rigid semipermanentattachment of articles thereto along with resistance of the supportedarticles to rotational movement. Other attempts at solution of theproblems of semi-permanent rigidity and rotational stability require theuse of screws or other semi-permanent fastening means resulting inmarring of the poles thereby greatly reducing flexibility of the systemdue to the appearance of unsightly remnants of previous arrangements.

Although, as noted above, pole supported adjustable furniture systemsare available on the market, such systems are often expensive, limitingin the use which can be made therewith of ordinary furniture, difficultto assemble and adjust, unsightly when used in conjunction withelectrical apparatus, and unstable when subjected to unbalanced loads.It would be desirable to provide a stable, easily installed and easilyvaried pole supported furniture system which was simple and inexpensiveto manufacture, capable of maximum decorative use and adornment, andwhich could utilize cabinets, shelving materials and panelling of manydifferent manufacturers. Further, a desired apparatus should be of astable construction and permit the concealment of electrical conductorsfor lamps, radios, clocks, electronic equipment and the like which mightbe contained on or in the furniture suspended from the poles. Stillfurther, a desirable system should be sufficiently flexible to permitthe arrangement and easy rearrangement of a mixture of all of thevarious items of furniture mentioned.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anadjustable pole supported furniture system which realizes one or more ofthe aforesaid objectives. Specifically, it is within the contemplationof the present invention to provide a pole supported adjustablefurniture system for supporting articles of furniture and the like whichis simple to assemble and disassemble, permits virtually unlimitedvariety in arrangement and use of materials and results in a stable,non-permanent, variable furniture unit.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects andfeatures of the present invention, there is provided an adjustable polesupport system comprising, in combination, at least two vertical supportpoles and means for vertically mounting said poles. Each of the polescomprises a vertically extending body having first, vertically extendingleft and right channels each having a rear wall. Left and right sidewalls extend outwardly from said left and right channel rear wallsdefining said left and right channels therebetween. Front and rearflanges extend outwardly from each of the left and right side walls withthe ends of the flanges fomiing lips in a manner that second, front andrear channels are defined thereby and are bounded respectively by theside walls, the flanges and the lips. A plurality of horizontallyopposed pairs of vertically spaced apertures appear in at least two ofthe side walls of the poles, each of said apertures extending betweenone of said first channels and one of said second channels. Theapertures are of a size to accept pin means, two of which are providedand are supported by a pair of said horizontally opposed verticallyspaced apertures. At least two article supports are provided for use inhorizontally supporting an article between the poles. The articlesupports comprise a face which is constructed and arranged tohorizontally support at least a portion of the article. A firstattachment means on the article support removably fixes the articlesupport to the pin means. A second attachment means on the articlesupport is vertically spaced from the first attachment means and isconstructed and arranged to coact with a channel of a pole to maintainthe article support substantially horizontal under the application oftorsional forces to said article support.

The above description, as well as further objects, features andadvantages of the present invention will be more fully understood byreference to the following detailed description of a presently preferredbut nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance with the presentinvention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a representative form of the presentinvention, showing various articles supported from poles;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2--2 ofFIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows showing a rear channelcap removed from a rear channel of a pole;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the pole of FIG. 2, showingthe pole above a floor bearing pad;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation view of a pole showing floor andceiling bearing means in place thereon, a rug bearing pad in placethereunder, with parts of the structure broken away to show the internalstructure of the ceiling bearing means and alternate, in situ, pinmeans;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline 5-5 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows showingapertures in the pole;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one form of a pin means;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 5 showing analternate form for apertures in the pole;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternate form of a pin means;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline 9-9 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing aform of a shelf bracket and a shelf;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken sub stantially along theline l0-l0 of FIG. 9 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 9 showing analternate form of a shelf bracket and shelf;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline 12-12 of FIG. 11 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 12 showing amounting bracket strip attached to a cabinet and the cabinet supportedon a pole;

FIG. 14 is a front view of a mounting bracket strip;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 13 showing theattachment of a light bar to a pole;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 9 showing asupport bar supporting a portion of an object thereon;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline 17-l7 of FIG. 16 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a panel supportedbetween brackets; 7

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline 19-19 of FIG. 18 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 15 showing theattachment of an alternate support bar to a pole; and,

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 13 showing analternate mounting bracket strip attached to a cabinet and the cabinetsupported on a pole.

Referring now specifically to the drawing, and first to FIG. I, there isshown an illustrative adjustable pole support system embodying featuresof the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral20, which includes four substantially identical poles 22 which arevertically supported between a ceiling C and a floor F in a manner to bedescribed in detail hereinafter. In this illustrative form of theinvention, a number of articles are shown horizontally supported by thepoles 22 including shelves 24, a cabinet 26, a chest of drawers 28 and alight bar 30.

The constructional details of the pole 22 are best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3wherein the pole, which may be fabricated of brake-formed or roll-formedsteel or other suitable material, is shown as being composed of twosubstantially identical vertically extending channel bars designatedherein for convenience of notation as left and right pole sections 22a,22b. The letters a and b are used throughout the description to denote,respectively, left and right substantially identical structures.

Centrally located, vertically extending left and right rear walls 30a,30b of left and right, pole sections 22a, 22b are attached to oneanother by any convenient means of permanent fastening, such as by spotwelding or the like. Front and rear left and right side walls 320, 34a,32b, 34b extend outwardly from left and right rear walls 30a, 30b atright angles thereto in opposite directions from said rear walls onopposite sides of the pole 22. Front and rear left and right flanges36a, 38a, 36b, 38b extend outwardly from the respective side walls 32a,34a, 32b, 34b at right angles thereto and terminate in right angle,inwardly directed lips 40a, 42a, 40b, 42b.

Thus, due to the constructional configuration of the pole sections 22a,22b, vertically extending left and right channels 44a, 44b are formedwithin the pole 22, bounded respectively by the rear walls 30a, 30b, thefront side walls 32a 32b and the rear side walls 34a, 34b. In addition,vertically extending front and rear channels 48, 50 are formed withinthe pole 22, defined respectively by the juxtaposed substantiallyco-planar front and rear, left and right side walls 32a, 32b and 34a,34b, the substantially parallel front and rear, left and right flanges36a, 36b and 38a, 38b, as well as the front and rear, left and rightlips 40a, 40b and 42a, 42b.

A plurality of vertically spaced apertures 52 (best seen in FIG. 5)appear within each of the side walls 32a, 32b, 34a, 34b (see FIG. 3) andextend between two adjacent channels, i.e., channel 44a and eitherchannel 48 or 50, and channel 44b and either channel 48 or 50 (see FIG.2). Consequently, both the front and rear channels 48, 50 are incommunication with the left and right channels 44a, 44b for a purpose tobe described hereinafter.

In order to conceal the apertures 52 from view at the front of the polesystem 20, vertically extending from and rear channel caps 54, 56 areprovided which include ears 58, 60 thereon for engagement with lips 40a,40b, 42a, 42b, permitting removable attachment of said caps to the frontand rear channels 48, 50. The caps 54, 56 may be plain on their outerfaces 62, 64 as illustrated, or the outer faces thereof may includevarious designs thereon. The caps 54, 56 may be made of any suitablematerial such as plastic in colors or various wood grain effects, or maybe made of metals or other material to match or contrast with thematerial and finish of the poles 22. Y

The lower ends of the poles 22 are maintained in a relatively fixedposition on the floor F (see FIG. 1) by the use of a floor bearing pad66, which is made of any suitable material such as rubber or the like.The floor bearing pad 66 may be supplied in a set of three similar padsof three different thicknesses to aid in vertical mounting andpositioning of the pole described more fully hereinafter. The floorbearing pad 66 includes a countersunk opening 68 located centrallytherein (see FIGS. 3 and 4) for use in fastening the pad to the floor Fas by screws or the like. The floor bearing pad 66 includes front andrear channel engaging bosses 70, 72 which, when the floor bearing pad 66is fastened to the floor F and the pole 22 is placed thereon, extendinto the lower ends of the front and rear channels 48, 50 to aid instabilizing the lower end of the pole (see FIG. 4).

In the event that it is desired or necessary to use the pole system 20on a rug or carpet, a rug bearing pad 74 (See FIG. 4) is provided whichmay be made of the same material as the floor bearing pad 66 and whichincludes a plurality of teeth 76 on the bottom thereof for engagementwith carpet pile thereby rendering the rug bearing pad relativelyimmobile with respect thereto. The floor bearing pad 66 is inserted intothe bottom of the pole 22 and the combination is inserted into adepression 78 within the rug bearing pad 74. In the event that a morepermanent affixation of the rug bearing pad 74 to the carpet is desiredthan can be accomplished by the use of the teeth 76 alone, a countersunkopening 80 is provided in the rug bearing pad to permit a more securefastening of the rug bearing pad to the subflooring as by screws or thelike (not shown).

The upper portion of the pole 22 is held between the ceiling C and thefloor F by virtue of compressive forces exerted on the pole 22 by anyone of a variety of means. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, agenerally cylindrical sleeve 82 (see FIG. 4) includes a slot 84 thereinof sufficient width to enable the slot to straddle the top of thecombined rear walls 30a, 30b. A ceiling bearing pad 86 is inserted onthe top of the sleeve 82, is secured thereto by, e.g., pin means (notshown), and is designed to bear against the ceiling C. Theaforementioned compressive force is supplied by a spring 88 containedwithin the sleeve 82 which bears against the ceiling bearing pad 86 andthe combined rear walls 30a, 30b. The spring 88 is compressed by thepositioning of the pole 22 between the floor F and the ceiling C. Thecompressive force may be varied by, for example, shortening the lengthof the sleeve 82 by any convenient means.

In order to support the shelves 24 in relatively fixed relation to thepoles 22, a shelf support bracket 90 is provided (see FIGS. 9 and whichmay be made of any suitable material such as sheet steel or the like.The shelf support bracket 90 includes a face 92 which has a flangedlower portion 94 bent at a right angle thereto which is designed tosupport one end of a shelf 24. The upper portion of the shelf supportbracket 90 is of a width equal to the width of the left or rightchannels 44a or 44b and has two right angle bends therein forming ashelf support bracket hook 96.

The shelf support bracket hook 96 is designed to engage a bracketsupport pin 98, in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter. Asuggested form for the bracket support pin 98, shown in FIGS. 4 and 6,includes a pin of generally circular cross section and of a length to besupported by a pair of horizontally opposed apertures 52 in either theleft or right channel 44a or 44b. The bracket support pin 98 includesends which lie in non-parallel planes to prevent accidentaldisengagement of the pin from the apertures 52.

To aid in providing lateral stability and the maintenance of ahorizontal attitude for the shelves 24, even when subjected to torsionalforces due to unbalanced loading thereof, a lateral support tab 100 (seeFIG. 10) is formed in the face 92 of the shelf support bracket 90. Thelateral support tab l00 is of a width substantially equal to the widthof the left or right channels 440 or 44b and projects rearwardly fromthe face 92 to contact side walls 320 and 34a or 32b and 34b of thepoles left or right channel to provide the required lateral stability.

FIGS. 11 and 12 best illustrate an alternate shelf support bracket 90c,which has a face 920, which vertically spans a number of the verticallyspaced apertures 52. A flange 94c projects outwardly from the face 92cof the shelf support bracket 90c, and may either be of sufficientoutward extent to support a shelf 24 in the manner of flange 94 of shelfsupport bracket 90 or, in the alternative, may be somewhat shorter anddesigned to mate with a cove 102 of a shelf 240, as shown in FIG. 12.

The upper end of shelf support bracket 900 is of a width approximatelyequal to the width of left or right pole channels 44a or 44b, and formsa shelf support bracket hook 960 with a forward facing opening forengaging an upper bracket support pin 98. The lower end of shelf supportbracket 920 is likewise of the width of the left or right pole channels44a or 44b and forms a rearwardly opening hook 104 for engaging avertically spaced, lower bracket support pin 98.

Numerous articles of standard manufacture, other than shelves, may besupported from the pole system 20 such as the cabinet 26 and the chestof drawers 28. The poles 22 are spaced sufficiently apart to accommodatethe width of the standard articles. Any shelves 24 to be includedbetween poles 22 which will support other articles of furniture must,naturally, be selected of a length compatible therewith.

For mounting standard articles of furniture on the pole system 20, amounting strip 106 is provided (see FIG. 14) which includes, formed inthe face thereof, a plurality of mounting hooks 108 of a widthsubstantially equal to the width of the left or right channels 44a or44b. A number of openings 110 are provided in the face of the mountingstrip 106 for use in attachment of the mounting strip to, for example,the cabinet 26 by the screws 112 as shown in FIG. 13. One or moremounting strips 106 may be attached to the articles of furniture to besupported by the pole 22, depending on the size thereof and the supportrequired.

In addition to the shelves 24 and 24c and the other articles offurniture which may be supported by the pole system 20, various otheritems may be similarly added thereto. For example, support bar 30 has amounting strip 114 (see FIG. 15) attached to each of the ends thereof.The mounting strip 114 includes hooks 116 spaced to engage support pins98 for mounting of the support bar 30 between adjacent poles. In theembodiment illustrated, a plurality of incandescent bulbs 118 are showncontained within fixtures 120 attached to the interior of the supportbar 30 by brackets 122.

In assembling the adjustable pole support system 20, components of equallength are selected to be supported between adjacent poles 22 and floorbearing pads 66 are located predetermined distances apart on the floorF. If additional stability is desired, the floor pads 66 are affixed tothe floor F by the use of a screw or the like inserted through theaperture 68 within each floor bearing pad.

The spring 88 is placed within the sleeve 82, the ceiling bearing pad 86placed on the top of the sleeve and the entire sleeve assembly is placedwith the slot 84 straddling rear walls 30a and 30b of a pole 22. Thepole 22 is located in registry with the positioned floor bearing pad 66by placing the ceiling bearing pad against the ceiling over the floorbearing pad and the spring 88 is compressed by forcing the pole 22upward. The pole 22 is then lowered over the floor bearing pad 66 in amanner that the front and rear channel engaging bosses 70, 72 engage thefront and rear channels 48, 50 of the pole. If necessary, the sleeve 82may be shortened by any convenient means, e.g., a hacksaw, to increasethe compressive force applied to the pole.

The next adjacent pole 22 is positioned in a like manner, theabove-mentioned predetermined distance from the first pole with the leftand right channels of the respective poles facing each other. One ormore floor bearing pads 74 of varying thickness is inserted beneath thesecond pole to horizontally align corresponding apertures of adjacentpoles and also aid in providing the necessary compressive force tomaintain vertical stability.

Naturally, if the adjustable pole system is to be assembled on a rug orcarpet, the rug bearing pad 74 would be placed on the rug prior to theplacement of the pole 22. Also, if it is desired, the rug bearing pad 74may be used as the sole lower stabilizing means, the floor bearing pad66 being dispensed with, if the proper horizontal alignment ofcorresponding apertures and sufficient compressive force is obtainablewithout the use thereof.

To support one of the shelves 24, a bracket support pin 98 is placed intwo horizontally opposed apertures 52 in the side walls of, for example,the right channel 46 of a pole 22.'A shelf support bracket 90 is placedwith the shelf support bracket hook 96 over the bracket support pin 98.Another bracket support pin 98 is placed at a corresponding verticallocation within two horizontally opposed apertures 52 of the leftchannel 44 of a facing, adjacent pole 22 and another shelf supportbracket 90 is placed with the shelf support bracket hook 96 thereof overthe other bracket support pin 98. The shelf 24 is then placed with itsends on the flanges 94 of the facing shelf support brackets 90.Fastening means such as screws 124 (see FIGS. 9 and 10) may be used tofasten the shelf 24 to the shelf support brackets 90. In position inthis manner, tabs 100 of the shelf support brackets 90 provide therequired lateral stability and maintenance of horizontal positiondespite subjection of the shelf 24 to torsional forces by nonsymmetricalloading thereof.

As an alternative to the bracket support pin 98 designed to fit withinapertures 52, a bracket support pin 98c (see FIG. 8) may be providedwhich is straight for its entire length and which has enlarged andpieces 126 requiring alternate apertures 52c as shown in FIG. 7.Naturally, other variations in brackets, support pins and shape andarrangement of apertures are possible beyond those illustrated.

To use the shelf support bracket 900 shown in FIGS.

11 and 12, two bracket support pins 98 are required for each shelfsupport bracket and are positioned a vertical distance apart determinedby the vertical spacing of the upper and lower shelf support brackethooks 960, 104. The poles 22 are arranged as described hereinbefore andthe upper shelf support bracket hook 96c is initially forced to engagean upper bracket support pin 98. The lower shelf support bracket hook104 is then forced to engage a lower bracket support pin 98 which, dueto the distance between the centers of the hooks 96c and 104, causes thelower bracket support pin to be raised within the aperture 52. Thejustdescribed arrangement of the bracket support pins 98 ensures rigidsupport of the shelf support bracket 900 by both the upper and lowerbracket support pins. A similar shelf support bracket 90c is attached ata corresponding vertical location on an adjacent pole 22 and a shelf 24chaving coves 102 at either end thereof is placed so as to have the covesengage the flanges 940 of the respective shelf support brackets 90 c.

Cabinets 26, chests of drawers 28, or other like articles of furnitureare attached by securing mounting strips 106 to the sides thereof andengaging hooks 108 thereof with correspondingly placed bracket supportpins 98 within appropriate apertures of properly spaced and securedpoles 22.

Light bar 30 which is shown supporting incandescent bulbs 118, may alsosupport fluorescent bulbs (not shown) or other devices. In any event,the light bar 30 and associated structure is supported by the adjustablepole support system 20 by the use of mounting bracket strips 114, thehooks 116 of which engage properly placed bracket support pins 98.

With the incandescent lights 118, as with other electric or electronicapparatus (not shown) electrical connection to a power source isrequired. The necessary wiring for such apparatus may be passed throughappropriate openings in the mounting plates, for example the opening 128in mounting strip 114 (see FIG. 15), and led through one of theapertures 52 to be carried within a front or rear channel 48 or 50. Thewiring may then exit from the channel 48 or 50 through an aperture 52 ator near the bottom of the rear of the pole 22. The front and rearchannels thus function as convenient conduits for any requiredelectrical connections.

To conceal any included wiring, as well as the apertures 52, the channelcaps 54, 56 may be snapped in place on the pole 22 thereby decoratingthe front and rear channels 48, 50 as well. Additionally, portions ofchannel caps 54, 56 may be positioned between unoccupied verticalportions of right and left channels as the channel openings of allchannels are substantially the same, thereby providing a finishedappearance to the completed system. In addition, the left and rightchannels 44a, 44b of the first and last poles 22 of an assembled systemcan be completely covered with channel caps.

Among the many variations possible which are considered to be within thescope of the present invention would be the use of a generally U-shapedsupport bar 130 (see FIGS. 16 to 19) which may be used for a variety offunctions to be described.

The bar 130 includes a central longitudinally extending top leg 132 andfront and rear longitudinally extending legs 134, 136 extendingperpendicularly downward therefrom (see FIGS. 16 and 17). A support barhook 138, of a width approximating the width between side walls 32, 34of a pole 22 extends downwardly from the central leg 132 in the samedirection therefrom as the front and rear legs 134, 136. The support barhook 138 is adapted to fit over a pin 98 supported by the pole 22 with asimilar support bar hook 138 appearing on the opposite end of thesupport bar 130 (not shown) to support the bar between two poles 22.

A table 140, or the like (see FIGS. 16 and 17), may have one end thereofsupported on the top of the central leg 132 of the support bar 130 andextend between the poles 22 supporting the supporting bar 130. Thedistal end of the table 140 may be supported by a support leg (notshown). For added stability, the table 140 may be secured to the supportbar 130 by fastening means such as the screw 142 inserted thereinthrough an opening 144 in the central leg 132 of the support bar 130.

Alternately, a support bar 130a may be provided (see FIGS. 18 and 19)which is similar to the support bar 130, except that the hook 138athereof is bent in the opposite direction from the front and rear legs134a, 136a with respect to the central leg 132a. The support bar 130a ismounted with the hook 138a thereof over a pin 98 supported by a pole 22.When mounted in this position, the central leg 132a is usable as abottom support and a panel 146 of a thickness approximating the distancebetween the front and rear legs 134a, 136a is supportable by the supportbar 130a within the U- 9 shaped channel formed by the front, central,and rear legs 134a, 132a, 136a.

In a like manner, a support bar 130 may be used to secure the upperportion of the panel 146 within the U- shaped channel therein, as shownin FIGS. 18 and 19. Here again, fastening means such as a screw 142 orthe like may be used to provide secure support of the panel 146 by thesupport bars 130, 130a by being inserted through openings 144, 1440therein. The support bars 130, 130a extend completely between two poles22 and thus completely support a panel 146 therebetween useful as, forexample, a chalk board or display board.

As yet another variation of the present invention, a generallycylindrical support bar 148 (see FIG. 20) may be provided with a supportbar hook 150 at each of its outer ends. The support bar 148 is of alength to be supported upon pins 98 of adjacent poles 22. Thecylindrical support bar 148 may be utilized in much the same manner asthe support bars 130, 130a described hereinbefore if the upper and lowerportion thereof are open. Alternately, in commercial applications, thecylindrical support bar 148 may be used for the display of merchandiseon hangers or other supports, thus permitting easy manipulation incombination with firm support of the merchandise hangers.

Also, a mounting bracket strip 106a (see FIG. 21) is considered withinthe scope of the invention. The mounting bracket strip 106a is similarto the mounting bracket strip 106 (see FIGS. 13 and 14), but includes anadditional lower support flange l52-to aid in positioning the cabinet 26or chest of drawers 28 which is mounted thereby.

Naturally, there are other variations considered to be within the scopeof the present invention, which have not been shown, such as theadoption of channels 44a, 44b, 48 or 50 which are other than orthogonal.For example, triangular channels could be used with similar triangularshaped shelf support bracket hooks 96. Further, various combinations ofshapes of books and shapes of channels would function to provide thenecessary resistance to torsional forces, though the presentlyillustrated combination is preferred.

As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the inventionmay be used in other specific forms without departing from its spirit oressential characteristics. For example, the presently illustrated pole22 can be made and sold with the substantially identical sections 22a,22b spaced and apart from one another. The sections may then either befastened together by upper and lower fastening means, auxiliaryfastening means between the top and the bottom thereof, or may be usedsingly with articles being supported from a single pole at one or amultitude of levels. The present embodiment is, therefore, to beconsidered as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of theinvention being indicated by the claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalence of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable pole support system comprising, in combination, atleast two vertical poles and means for vertically mounting said poles,each of said poles having a first pair of vertical channels withopposed, substantially parallel side walls spaced a given distanceapart, a second pair of vertical channels each having a rear wall, saidsecond pair of channels being disposed substantially at right angles tosaid first pair of channels, a plurality of pairs of horizontallyopposed vertically spaced apertures in two of said vertical channelsextending between the side wall of one of said first pair of verticalchannels and said rear wall of one of said second pair of verticalchannels, at least two pin means each removably supported within one ofsaid first pair of channels by a pair of said horizontally opposedvertically spaced apertures, at least two article supports rigidlyjoined together in vertically spaced relationship for use in horizontalsupport of an article between said poles, each of said article supportsincluding hook means engaging said pin means and being supported by saidpin means, and said hook means having a width substantially equal tosaid given distance and having at least a part thereof extending insubstantially the same direction as said side walls for coactingtherewith to maintain said article supports substantially horizontalunder the application of torsional forces thereto.

2. An adjustable pole support system according to claim 1 includingvertical cap means for closing said vertical channels thereby renderingsaid vertically spaced apertures substantially undetectable.

3. An adjustable pole support system according to claim 1, wherein saidvertical mounting means includes a floor bearing pad having bosses onthe top thereof for engaging the bottom of said second pair of verticalchannels, a sleeve having a slot, said slot including means for mountingof said sleeve on the upper end of said pole, a ceiling bearing padfixed to the top of said sleeve, a compression spring within said sleevefor bearing against the top of said vertical channel side walls and saidceiling bearing pad thereby providing sufficient compressive force onsaid pole for removably vertically mounting said pole between a ceilingand a floor.

4. An adjustable pole support system according to claim 1 wherein saidarticle support has a face and includes an article support hook and alateral support tab, both said article support hook and said lateralsupport tab extending in the same direction from said face of saidarticle support and being of a width approximating the width betweensaid side walls, a flange extending outwardly from the face of saidarticle support in the opposite direction from said article support hookfor at least partially supporting an article thereon.

5. An adjustable pole support system according to claim 1 wherein saidarticle support includes a face having a forward projecting flangethereon for at least partially supporting an article, a forwardlyopening hook on said article support for engaging one of said pin means,a rearwardly opening hook spaced vertically from said forwardly openinghook for engaging another of said pin means, both of said hooks being awidth substantially the same width as said given distance between saidside walls, whereby said first and second hooks maintain said articlesupport substantially horizontal under the application of torsionalforces thereto.

6. An adjustable pole support system according to claim 1 wherein saidarticle support comprises a mounting bracket strip including at leasttwo vertically spaced pin engaging hooks of substantially the same widthas the given distance between said side walls for coacting therewith formaintaining said mounting bracket strip horizontal under the applicationof torsional forces thereto, and means for mounting said mountingbracket strip to an article to be adjustably supported by saidadjustable pole support system.

7. An adjustable pole support system according to claim 2 wherein eachof said poles comprises a pair of abutting rear walls, side walls spaceda given distance from one another and extending outwardly from each ofsaid rear walls definingleft and right channels therebetween with saidrear walls, each of said side walls having flanges extending outwardlytherefrom with inwardly facing lips thereon wherein a pair of open frontand rear vertically extending channels are formed being defined by saidlips said flanges and said side walls, each of said article supportsincluding support hooks having a width substantially equal to said givendistance between said side walls, a plurality of pairs of horizontallyopposed vertically spaced apertures in said walls extending between twoof said channels, said cap means including ears for co-acting with saidlips for removably mounting said cap means on said channels, therebyrendering said vertically spaced apertures substantially undetectable.

8. In combination an adjustable pole support system having at least onevertical pole having opposed, substantially parallel side walls boundinga channel, said channel side walls being spaced a given distance apart,an article support, a plurality of horizontally opposed verticallyspaced mounting means within said channel side walls adjustably mountingsaid article support on said pole, first and second means on saidarticle support mounting said article support on said vertically spacedmounting means, at least one of said first and second means defining ahook said first and second means being rigidly joined together invertically spaced relationship with each other, each of said means beingof a width substantially equal to said given distance and extending insubstantially the same direction as said side walls for coactiontherewith to retain said article support in a fixed position under theapplication of torsional forces thereto.

9. Anadjustable pole support system according to claim 8 wherein saidvertically spaced mounting means includes a plurality of generally ovalapertures in said wide walls and further includes pin means forreleasably coacting with said apertures for adjustably mounting saidarticle support on said pole.

10. An adjustable pole support system according to claim 9, said pinmeans being generally cylindrical, the ends thereof being arranged tolie in non-parallel planes for preventing accidental removal of said pinmeans from said apertures.

11. An adjustable pole support system according to claim 8 wherein eachof said first and second means is of a width to fit snugly in saidchannel between the side walls thereof.

12. An adjustable pole support system according to claim 8 wherein saidfirst and second means includes a tab of a width to fit snugly in saidchannel between the side walls thereof.

13. An adjustable pole support system according to claim 9 including afurther pin extending between and mounted on said side walls, saidfurther pin being spaced from said first named pin, said other of saidfirst and second means including a further hook, said further hook beingengaged over said further pin.

14. An adjustable pole support system according to claim 9, said pinbeing generally cylindrical, the ends thereof being arranged to lie innon-parallel planes for preventing accidental demounting of said pinfrom said side walls.

1. An adjustable pole support system comprising, in combination, atleast two vertical poles and means for vertically mounting said poles,each of said poles having a first pair of vertical channels withopposed, substantially parallel side walls spaced a given distanceapart, a second pair of vertical channels each having a rear wall, saidsecond pair of channels being disposed substantially at right angles tosaid first pair of channels, a plurality of pairs of horizontallyopposed vertically spaced apertures in two of said vertical channelsextending between the side wall of one of said first pair of verticalchannels and said rear wall of one of said second pair of verticalchannels, at least two pin means each removably supported within one ofsaid first pair of channels by a pair of said horizontally opposedvertically spaced apertures, at least two article supports rigidlyjoined together in vertically spaced relationship for use in horizontalsupport of an article between said poles, each of said article supportsincluding hook means engaging said pin means and being supported by saidpin means, and said hook means having a width substantially equal tosaid given distance and having at least a part thereof extending insubstantially the same direction as said side walls for coactingtherewith to maintain said article supports substantially horizontalunder the application of torsional forces thereto.
 2. An adjustable polesupport system according to claim 1 including vertical cap means forclosing said vertical channels thereby rendering said vertically spacedapertures substantially undetectable.
 3. An adjustable pole supportsystem according to claim 1, wherein said vertical mounting meansincludes a floor bearing pad having bosses on the top thereof forengaging the bottom of said second pair of vertical channels, a sleevehaving a slot, said slot including means for mounting of said sleeve onthe upper end of said pole, a ceiling bearing pad fixed to the top ofsaid sleeve, a compression spring within said sleeve for bearing againstthe top of said vertical channel side walls and said ceiling bearing padthereby providing sufficient compressive force on said pole forremovably vertically mounting said pole between a ceiling and a floor.4. An adjustable pole support system according to claim 1 wherein saidarticle support has a face and includes an article support hook and alateral support tab, both said article support hook and said lateralsupport tab extending in the same direction from said face of saidarticle support and being of a width approximating the width betweensaid side walls, a flange extending outwardly from the face of saidarticle support in the opposite direction from said article support hookfor at least partially supporting an article thereon.
 5. An adjustablepole support system according to claim 1 wherein said article supportincludes a face having a forward projecting flange thereon for at leastpartially supporting an article, a forwardly opening hook on saidarticle support for engaging one of said pin means, a rearwardly openinghook spaced vertically from said forwardly opening hook for engaginganother of said pin means, both of said hooks being a widthsubstantially the same width as said given distance between said sidewalls, whereby said first and second hooks maintain said article supportsubstantially horizontal under the application of torsional forcesthereto.
 6. An adjustable pole support system according to claim 1wherein said article support comprises a mounting bracket stripincluding at least two vertically spaced pin engaging hooks ofsubstantially the same width as the given distance between said sidewalls for coacting therewith for maintaining said mounting bracket striphorizontal under the application of torsional forces thereto, and meansfor mounting said mounting bracket strip to an article to be adjustablysupported by said adjustable pole support system.
 7. An adjustable polesupport system according to claim 2 wherein each of said poles comprisesa pair of abutting rear walls, side walls spaced a given distance fromone another and extending outwardly from each of said rear wallsdefining left and right channels therebetween with said rear walls, eachof said side walls having flanges extending outwardly therefrom withinwardly facing lips thereon wherein a pair of open front and rearvertically extending channels are formed being defined by said lips saidflanges and said side walls, each of said article supports includingsupport hooks having a width substantially equal to said given distancebetween said side walls, a plurality of pairs of horizontally opposedvertically spaced apertures in said walls extending between two of saidchannels, said cap means including ears for co-acting with said lips forremovably mounting said cap means on said channels, thereby renderingsaid vertically spaced apertures substantially undetectable.
 8. Incombination an adjustable pole support system having at least onevertical pole having opposed, substantially parallel side walls boundinga channel, said channel side walls being spaced a given distance apart,an article support, a plurality of horizontally opposed verticallyspaced mounting means within said channel side walls adjustably mountingsaid article support on said pole, first and second means on saidarticle support mounting said article support on said vertically spacedmounting means, at least one of said first and second means defining ahook said first and second means being rigidly joined together invertically spaced relationship with each other, each of said means beingof a width substantially equal to said given distance and extending insubstantially the same direction as said side walls for coactiontherewith to retain said article support in a fixed position under theapplication of torsional forces thereto.
 9. An adjustable pole supportsystem according to claim 8 wherein said vertically spaced mountingmeans includes a plurality of generally oval apertures in said widewalls and further includes pin means for releasably coacting with saidapertures for adjustably mounting said article support on said pole. 10.An adjustable pole support system according to claim 9, said pin meansbeing generally cylindrical, the ends thereof being arranged to lie innon-parallel planes for preventing accidental removal of said pin meansfrom said apertures.
 11. An adjustable pole support system according toclaim 8 wherein each of said first and second means is of a width to fitsnugly in said channel between the side walls thereof.
 12. An adjustablepole support system according to claim 8 wherein said first and secondmeans includes a tab of a width to fit snugly in said channel betweenthe side walls thereof.
 13. An adjustable pole support system accordingto claim 9 including a further pin extending between and mounted on saidside walls, said further pin being spaced from said first named pin,said other of said first and second means including a further hook, saidfurther hook being engaged over said further pin.
 14. An adjustable polesupport system according to claim 9, said pin being generallycylindrical, the ends thereof being arranged to lie in non-parallelplanes for preventing accidental demounting of said pin from said sidewalls.